Research Reports

Description:
The Seattle Wide-area Information For Travelers (SWIFT) Field Operational Test was intended to evaluate the performance of a large-scale urban Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS) deployment in the Seattle area. The unique features of the SWIFT ATIS were the provision of information for multiple transportation modes, the delivery of this information using three different devices, and the use of FM sideband as the primary communication medium. A total of approximately 800 system users were recruited during the course of the study.

This document is focused on the evaluation of the communications coverage aspects of the Seiko High Speed Data System (HSDS) system used to support the SWIFT project in the Seattle area. The SWIFT system is designed to provide traffic incident, speed/congestion and real-time robust position information to three receiving devices using the HSDS system. The Communications Study had four objectives: 1) determine the basic capability of the HSDS subcarrier to deliver ITS information; 2) assess signal level, bit error and packet completion rates; 3) determine the existence of multipath radio signals; and, 4) message-receipt probability.